Auxiliary slider for slide operated fasteners



Dec. 17,1940. R J OSEMAN 2,224,930

UXILIARY SLIDER FOR SLIDE OPERATED FASTENERS Filed April 13, 1959 s sheets-sheet 1 BYv AT ORNEY Z 5:11am?? a l Dec. 17., 1940. R. J. RosEMAN 2,224,930

AUXILIARY SLIDER FOR SLIDE OPERATED FAsTENERs Filed April 13, 1939 s sheets-sheet 2 till!! 17, 1940. R. J. RosEMAN AUXILIARY SLIDER FOR SLIDE OPERATED FASTENERS Filed April 13, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 /l I r- Y L lNvENoR A 30 ated to complete the closure.

Patented Dec. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT oI-Flce AUXILIARY SLIDER FOR SLIDE OPERATED FASTENERS 6 Claims.

This invention relates in general to a fasten-- ing device =to be used in conjunction with Slide operated fasteners such as Zippers that are utilized for fastening together the edge portions or edge zones of garment openings, pieces of luggage, bags, tents, or other pieces of flexible fabric such as textile ,fabric or leather. The invention more particularly relates to a fastening device independent of'the usual -slider to facilitate closing of the Islide operated fasteners in tight tting garments such as corsets or brassires, or wherever the fastener must be closed under tension. In such cases it ls extremely difficult to pull the edge portions of the garment opening together by the slider, and the slider frequently jams or catches on the fastener parts or on the fabric.

It has been proposed to provide in a garment closure of the character described, an auxiliary hook and eye fastener on the inside of the garment beneath and separate from the slide-operated fastener, to be manually closed so that the garment edge portions first can be pulled together and connected by the auxiliary fastener into a position to permit easy sliding of the actuating slider and so that the tension on the edge portions will be largely taken up by the auxiliary fastener, after which the actuating slider of the 'slide fastener can be easily oper- However, diflculty is frequently experienced in that the auxiliary fastener interferes with free sliding of the actuating slider, for example, said slider catches in the auxiliary fastener elements or their connec- A tions tothe garments. Also, the known auxiliary fasteners are expensive to apply to the garment, and are undesirably bulky or thick. Furthermore, these known auxiliary fasteners are fixedly secured in predetermined positions along 40 the slide operated fastener and permit puckering of the edge porti-ons between themselves and the actuating slider.

A prime object of my invention is to provide a novel and improved auxiliary device operable step-by-step or adjustably., along the edge zones of the fabric or garment opening to permit initially manual pulling of said edge zones and the associated fastener elements close together and to thereafter hold the edge zones close together at points in -advance of the slider as, the latter is moved to interlock the fastener elements to close the fastener, whereby to reduce the resistance to the closing movement of the slider and prevent catching or jamming of the slider due to puckeiing of the loose unfastened edge (Cl. 2li-205) zones. Due to the diiferences in figure contour and the nature of the garment, it frequently happens that the tension and resistance to sliding of the slider in closing the fastener is greater at some points than others along the fastener, and my invention makes it possible to utilize and adjust the auxiliary device at different points along the fastener and at different distances from the slider to compensate for varying degrees of resistance to closing movement of the slider and varying tendencies to puckering of the edge portions of the garment opening.

Another object is to provide an auxiliary device of this character which shall be directly connected to the fastener or locking elements, whereby to eliminate additional fastening means such as rivets, stitches, etc., that have been required Ain securing in position the heretofore known auxiliary fasteners, and to further reduce tendency to puckering of the garment edge portions.

A furtherobject is to provide such an auxiliary device that shall be capable of automatically locking itself in adjusted position during operation of the slider, but which can be easily and quickly released for further adjustment.

Other objects are to provide an auxiliary device of the nature generally described that shall be small and compact so as to produce a minimum of protuberances on the garment, shall be easy to attach -to a slide-operated fastener, easy to operate and simple and inexpensive in construction; and to obtain other advantages and results as will be brought out by the following description whenread in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view on an enlarged scale of the two edge portions of a garment opening, bag, or the like, having a known type of slide-operated fastener and an auxiliary device embodying my invention.

` Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view on a further enlarged scale taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a composite perspective view of the two portions of the auxiliary device detached from the fastener.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 1 showing a modification of the' invention.v

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing a further modification of the invention.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 taken on the line 'l-l of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is al view similar to Figure 4 illustrating another form of the invention.

Figure 9 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line 9 9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 8 showing a still further modification of the invention.

Figure 11 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line I I-I I of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a similar view showing the manner of connecting the auxiliary device to one of the fastener parts.

Figure 13-is a view like Figure 8 showing another ltype of slide-operated fastener and another type of auxiliary device embodying my invention. l v

Figures 14 and 15 are transverse vertical sectional views on an enlarged scale, on the lines I4-I4 and I5-I5, respectively, of `Figure 13, and

Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a further modification of the invention.

Specifically describing the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, the reference characters A and B designate generally two edge portions or zones of fiexible material to be connected edge to edge, for example the edge portions of a garment opening, a bag, tent or the like. The edge portions A and B are shown as separably connectible by a known type of slide-operated fastener which includes parts G on and disposed longitudinally of each of said edge portions. As shown, the fastener parts comprise a set of metal fastener elements I mounted on each edge portion to separably interlock with the fastener elements on the other edge portion in known manner. 'Ihe fastener parts or elements I -are interlocked or connected and disengaged or disconnected by a vcomplemental element 2 which in the present instance is in the form of the known type of slider commonly found in the slide-operated fastener generally known as the Zipper and having two channels arranged at an acute angle to each other, and one slidably receiving the fastener elements I on each edge portion as shown in Figure 1.

As is well known, when slide-operated fasteners of this general nature are used in conjunction With tight fitting garments such as corsets, or where the fastener must be closed under tensionl it is extremely dicult to pull the edge portions together by the slider 2 so as to cause interlocking of the fastener elements I, and the edge portions frequently pucker or wrinkle under the tension so that the slider jams or catches on the fastener parts G or on the fabric of the connected edge portions. To overcome this didiculty, I propose to use an auxiliary device for preliminarily pulling and holding the edge portions A and B and the associated fastener parts close together in advance of the silder as the latter is moved to interlock the fastener parts to close the fastener, whereby to reduce the resistance to the closing movement of the slider and prevent catching or jamming of the slider.

The form of my auxiliary device shown in Figure 1 comprises two split tubular sections, portions or parts 3 and 4, each of which is of a cross-sectional shape approximately corresponding to the shape of the fastener parts as shown from the wall thereof that is opposite the slot and adjacent the other part, while the second mentioned part has a hook 9 struck up therefrom to t into the loop 8. Preferably the engaging surfaces of the bill of the hook and the loop 8 are inclined as shown in Figure 2 to insure positive engagement thereof.

In use of the invention, the two sections 3 and 4 of the auxiliary device are slid independently longitudinally of their respective edge portions to a point in advance of the slider 2 in the direction of fastener-closing movement of the slider, as shown by solid lines in Figure 1. The edge pontions A and B are -then manually pulled toward each other and close together, whereupon the two parts 3 and 4 are connected by the hook 9 and loop 8 and the auxiliary device will hold the edge portions in closely-spaced relation to each other. Thereupon, the slider 2 is advanced on its closing movement as shown by heavy dot and dash lines to close the portion of the fastener between the original position of the slider and the auxiliary device. Thereupon the auxiliary device is again moved longitudinally of the edge portions as before, in advance of the slider, as indicated by light dot and dash lines in Figure 1, whereupon the slider is again moved to further close the fastener. Generally the sections 3 and 4 of the auxiliary device will be locked against movement by engagement of the corners of the sections 3 and 4 with the root ends of the fastener elements I where the edge portions curve away from each other under tension as indicated at X in Figure 1.

With this construction, it will be observed that the fastener parts of the two edge portions between the silder 2 and the auxiliary device Within the angle between the channels of the slider and are disposed in sufficiently close relation to each other during closing movement of the slider to permit closing of the fastener by the slider with little resistance to movement of .the slider. Where the edge portions are not under tension, the auxiliary device may be pushed along the fastener parts G by the slider 2 without the necessity of any attention to the auxiliary device. Preferably a ap C will be applied to one of the edge portions lto underlie the fastener parts G, and desirably this flap is formed of flexible material and includes a resilient portion D the normal tendency of which is to hold the flap in iiat condition and resist wrinkling of the flap.

A modification of the invention` is shown in Figures 4 and 5 where the auxiliary device includes a section I0 similar to the section 3 mounted to slide longitudinally of the fastener part I of the edge portion A, and cooperating with a plurality of complemental elements II which are in the form of eyes fixedly secured at predetermined spaced points to and longitudinally of the other edge portion B. As shown, the elements I I constitute wire eyes of known form which are secured as by stitches I2 to the edge portion be- I neath the corresponding Vfastener parts G: De-

sirably, the eyes I I are stitched to the iiap C.

The section I has a hook I3 to selectively separably connect with the several eyes I I, so that in use die section I0 may be slid longitudinally of its edge portion in advance of the slider 2, as hereinbefore described, and selectively connected to the various eyes II for holding the edge portions in close relation during closing movement of the slider.

A further modification is shown in Figures 6 and '1 where the two sections Il and I5 of the auxiliary device are of split tubular form like the sections 43 and 4, each being slidable longitudinally'of' the fastener part of one of the edge portions. One of the sections has a plurality of hooks I6 spaced longitudinally thereof so that each hook may enter between two of the metal fastener elements I, The other section I6 has two openings I1 each to receive one of the hooks I6. The sections Il and I5 are operated in the same manner as the sections 3 and I, the hooks I6 being inserted into the openings I1 for separably connecting the sections. The bill of each hook enters between two of the fastener elements I as shown in Figures 6 and 7-so as to positively lock the sections against longitudinal movement on the edge portions.

A further modification of the invention is shown in Figures 8 and 9 where the two split tubular sections I8 and I9 of the auxiliary device have eyes 20 through which is threaded a lace 2l for separably and adjustably connecting the two sections. A suitable clamp 22 of known construction is threaded onto the ends of the lace so as to clamp them together to hold the sections I8 and I9 in the desired relation to each other.

In Figures 10, l1 and 12, the auxiliary device H is shown as comprising two integral portions 23 and 24 at least one of which is separably connectible to one edge portion. As shown, one portion 24 is split tubular in form, like the sections 3 and 4, and slidable along one edge portion, while the other portion 23 is cut away as at 25 to permit the deviceto be separably connected to the other edge portion. As shown in Figure 12 of the drawings, the edge portion A is tilted out of v its general plane for insertion into the portion 23 of the auxiliary device, there being adequate looseness or play between the fastener elements I and the-portion 23 to permit this operation. When the edgeportion is connected to the portion 23 as shown in Figure 11, the tension on the edge portion A will tend to hold the fastener elements I against becoming accidentally displaced through the cut-away portion of the auxiliary device. In operation, the portion 23 is disconnected from its edge portion and the whole device H is slid along the other edge portion, after whichthe edgeportions are pulled together and the portion 23 is connected to its edge portion.

Figures 13 to 15 inclusive show a modification of my auxiliary device in connection with another type of slide-operated fastener. In this form of the invention, the slide-operated fastener includes a fastener part or bead 26 extendable longitudinally thereof, being connected by In closing the fastener,

flexible connectors 23.

tors 28. This form of fastener' is known in the art and no 'claim to novelty is made thereon.

My auxiliary device includes two split tubular sections 29 and 30 each of a cross-sectional shape approximately corresponding to one of the beads 26, one of the sections having a hook 3l and the other having a complemental eye 32. The operation of this form of my invention is substantially the same as the operation of the form shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive.

In Figure 16 I have shown another modification of my invention wherein the auxiliary device I is not connected to the fastener parts but is connected to the edge portions in another way. Specically, the ap C may be formed with a beaded edge 33 corresponding to the beads 26 of the form of the invention shown in Figures 13 to inclusive, and a complemental flap K may be secured to the other edge portion A and have a similar beaded edge 36. My auxiliary device may be identical in construction with that shown in Figures 13 to 15 inclusive, including two split tubular sections 35 and 36' each being secured to and slidable longitudinally of one of the beaded edges 33 and 34. One of the sections has a hook 31 While the other has a complemental eye 38. The operation of this form of the invention issubstantially the same las that of the form shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive.

In all forms of the invention the sections of the auxiliary device may be removable from their respective fastener parts or edge portions, for example by sliding the sections oil the ends of the corresponding edge portions. If desired, however, suitable stops may be provided at the ends of the edge portions A and B to prevent accidental detachment of the auxiliary device from the edge portions.

It will be observed that in all forms of the invention illustrated and described. at least one of the lsections oi?4 the auxiliary device is complemental to all other sections, this being true even of the form shown in FiguresA and 5 where the section I0 is complemental to all of the sections II. It will also be observed that in all forms of the invention there is substantially a bead extending longitudinally of the edge zone of each of the two edge portions A and B, the longitudinal rows of fastener elements I being inthis sense substantially equivalent to the beads 26 and 33, 34 of Figures 13 and 16 respectively.

While yI have shown and described my invention as embodied in certain details of structure and in combination with dilerent types of slideoperated fasteners, it should be understood that this is primarily for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention, and that many changes may be made in the details of structure of the auxiliary device, and the auxiliary device may be used in connection with many types of fasteners without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I fastener parts in opposite directions to connect and disconnect the fastener parts on one edge zone to and from the fastener parts on the other edge zone, and an auxiliary device for facilitating the connection of said fastener parts by said slider comprising at least two sections separate from said slider, said sections having portions for connecting each section to one edge zone and said sections being complemental to each other for connecting said edge zones together, at least one section being slidable along the corresponding edge zone at points in advance of said slider, certain ones of the aggregate of said edge zones and said portions. of said auxiliary device being separably connectible to each other to permit connection and disconnection of said edge zones, and said portion of said section that is connected to one edge zone being spaced from said portion of the corresponding section on the other edge zone when said edge zones are connected together by said auxiliary device at a point in advance of said slider so that said fastener parts on each of said pieces of material between said slider and said auxiliary device are held in closely spaced relation to the fastener parts on the other piece and substantially within the angle between said channels of the slider. v

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 Wherein said portion of at least the slidable section is directly connected to and slidable longitudinally of the corresponding fastener part.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein at least said slidable section is a split tube embracing and slidable longitudinally of the corresponding fastener part.

4. In combination, a fastening device including two pieces of material each having a flexible edge zone carrying fastener parts extending longitudinally thereof and a slider having two channels at an acute angle to each other one slidably receiving the fastener parts on each edge zone, said slider being movable on and longitudinally of said fastener parts in opposite directions to connect and disconnect said fastener parts on one edge zone to and from the fastener parts on \the other edge zone, and an auxiliary device for separate from said slider, each section slidable on and longitudinally of said fastener parts on one edge zone at points in advance of said slider and said sections having cooperating elements for separably connecting the sections together so that when said sections are connected-together said fastener parts on each of said pieces of material between said auxiliary device and said slider are held in closely spaced relation to the fastener parts on the other piece and substantially within the angle between said channels of said slider.

5. In combination, a fastening device including two pieces of material each having a flexible edge zone carrying fastener parts extending longitudinally thereof and a slider having two channels at an acute angle to each other one slidably receiving the fastener parts on each edge zone, said slider being movable on and longitudinally of said fastener parts in opposite directions to connect and disconnect the fastener parts on one edge zone to and from the fastener parts on the other edge zone, and an auxiliary device for facilitating-the connection of said fastener parts by said slider comprising a plurality of sections spaced longitudinally of the same edge zone and each having a portion secured to said edge zone, and another section complemental to all of the first-mentioned sections for connecting said edge zones together and having a portion mounted to slide on and longitudinally of said fastener parts on the other edge zone. said complemental sections having cooperating elements to permit selective separable connection of the slidable section to each of the other sections, said portion of said section that is connected to one edge Zone being spaced from said portion of the corresponding section on the other edge 'zone when said edge zones are connected together by said auxiliary device at a point in advance of said slider so that said fastener parts on each of said pieces of material between said slider and said auxiliary device are held in closely spaced relation to the fastener parts on the other piece and I within the angle between said channels of said slider.

"6. In combination, a fastening device including two pieces of material each having a exible edge zone carrying fastener partsextending longitudinally thereof and a slider having two channels at an acute angletoeach other one slidably receiving the fastener parts on each edgezone, said slider being movable on and longitudinally of said fastener parts in opposite directions to connect and disconnect the fastener parts on one edge zone to and from the fastener parts on the other edge zone, and an auxiliary device for facilitating'the connection of said fastener parts by said slider comprising at least two sections separate from said slider, said sections having portions for connecting each section to one edge zone and said sections being complemental to each other for connecting said edge zones together, at least one section being slidable along the corresponding edge zone at points in advance of said slider and at least one of said sections being formed for separably connecting said portion thereof to the corresponding edge zone at any of a plurality of points in the length thereof, said portion of said section that is connected to one edge zone being spaced from said portion of the corresponding section on the other edge zone .when said edge zones are connected together by said auxiliary device at a point in advance of said slider so that said fastener parts on each of said pieces of material between said slider and said auxiliary device are held in closely vspaced relation to the fastener parts on the other piece and within the angle between said channels of said slider.

RICHARD J. ROSEMAN. 

